The closure for Gray Rock has been lifted. The closure on North Gateway remains in effect at this time.

From the Garden of the Gods Staff (3/1/17):

The closures are in place for the Tower of Babel- please refer to the attached images. As of this posting, there are no other closures, but we anticipate closures for North Gateway and Gray Rock similar to those in years past- but we're waiting until we see confirmed nesting behavior before enacting any closures. We will update this post as closures come in to place or are lifted.

A closure is now in effect for the North half of the East face of Gray Rock- please refer to the attached images. We are monitoring another nesting site of North Gateway, so it is possible that there may be some additional closures on North gateway, depending on what we see.

UPDATE (5/22): A closure is now in effect for the North half of the East face of Gray Rock- please refer to the attached images. We are monitoring another nesting site of North Gateway, so it is possible that there may be some additional closures on North Gateway, depending on what we see.

All closures for the park have been lifted. We don't expect any closures until March of 2017.

March 2, 2016

Map of closure for Grey Rock at GoG.

Photo of closure area of Grey Rock in GOG.

North Gateway closure map.

North Gateway closure reference image.

Based on observed nesting behavior, climbing closures in effect for for North Gateway Rock/Tower of Babel and AKA Kindergarten Rock (AKA Gray Rock). We expect these closures to last until approximately August for the West Face of N. Gateway and Kindergarten Rock, and until approximately October for the Tower of Babel- we will update this thread when these closures are lifted based on observed behavior, which will ultimately determine the specific dates.If you have questions, please stop by the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center. Also refer to forum post for maps: mountainproject.com/v/garden-o...

We also want to remind the climbing community that white chalk is prohibited in the park. When placing closure signange/notifications, our park rangers noted chalk stains on several routes in the closure area (Anaconda and Grapefruit Dance), as well as the blowouts bouldering area (which were cleaned last year, meaning all the chalk here is new). We are again hoping that the community can come together and address this issue before it requires any action on our part. We'd also like to thank the PPCA for their efforts to remove chalk stains in these areas last year, and hope that local climbers might consider helping them remove chalk stains from the rock this season- check their website for more info on upcoming events- pikespeakclimbersalliance.org/...

Finally, we want to remind everyone that you can fill out your permit online, any time! Visit parks.coloradosprings.gov/park... to register to climb. This should only take a few minutes, and is valid until the end of the year (New Year's).

OLD CLOSURES We were notified on 10/2/15 that all bird closures have now been lifted.

Per Stewart M. Green: the Garden of the Gods Park is now open to rock climbing as of Tuesday, June 2.

Update as of 8/4/15: as of this week, SOME closures have been lifted in Garden of the Gods. Grey Rock (aka Kindergarten Rock) is now entirely open. The Summit Ridge, East Ledges, and West face (excluding the West face of Tower of Babel) of North Gateway is also open.

Tower of Babel closure map 2015.

Tower of Babel closures 2015 (West view).

Per Stewart M. Green: ATTENTION!! The Colorado Springs Parks Department has CLOSED ALL CITY PARKS, including Garden of the Gods, Red Rock Canyon Open Space, and North Cheyenne Canon, to rock climbing for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

This is due to record rainfall totals in western Colorado Springs which as caused severe trail and parking lot damage, saturated the sandstone cliffs, and is causing parts of cliffs to break off.

The parks will be re-evaluated on Monday to determine how the closure will last.

Please respect the closures and take care of our precious climbing areas!

Update as of 3/27/15:

North Gateway Rock and Tower of Babel closures:

Map of North Gateway closures.

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Image of N Gateway Closures.

Kindergarten Rock:

Photo of closure area of Grey Rock in GOG.

Map of closure for Grey Rock at GoG.

Update as of 10/25/14:

Per Wesley Hermann, Park Interpreter, Garden of the Gods: All closures are lifted including Tower of Babel

Update as of 8/10/14:

Closures in Garden of the Gods Park for raptor nesting sites have been lifted. This includes the East face of North Gateway, the East Ledges on North Gateway, and the East face of Grey (Kindergarten) Rock. Closures for Migratory Birds are still in effect - this includes the Tower of Babel. We expect this closure to last in to early Fall. Please refer to the map attached. If you have questions, please stop by the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center.

Climbing closures for Tower of Babel.

Prior closures (pre 8/10/14): There are currently two closures in effect, both on North Gateway Rock. The first closures is for the Eastern Face (including the East ledges), which will include routes like Max's Mayhem, Snuggles/Fall Crack, etc. The second closure is for the Tower of Babel on the North end of Gateway Rock, and includes Anaconda, Ryan's Inferno, The Inferno, and Triple Exposure. The routes listed above are for reference, but may not represent all routes affected, and closures may be subject to change. We've provided a map of North gateway showing these closures.

North Gateway Closures- East Face and Tower of Babel.

North Gateway Closures- East Face and Tower of Babel.

North Gateway Closures- East Face and Tower of Babel.

Submitted By: GardenoftheGodsStaff on Mar 5, 2014

Addendum: March 29 - Based on new reports of nesting behavior and of raptors exhibiting signs of stress/defending their nesting sites, we are updating our closures to include Big Sky and Sand in the Vaseline (aka The Route to the Left) on the East face of Grey Rock (aka Kindergarten Rock). Other routes on the East face near the South Summit such as New Era will remain open, but we ask that climbers approach these routes from the South, and avoid the North end/approach of the East Face while the closure is in effect.

This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund,
and Mountain Project.You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates.

Description

This climbs the side of Easter Rock that faces towards Keyhole Rock. Climb a steep, unprotected face on loose edges to a large shelf. Walk up the shelf to the base of the summit ridge, and climb a little more steep rock to the top. Not much gear, and what there is won't do you a lot of good. Still, not a terrible climb, and you bag a summit with a good view of the rest of the garden.

Addendum: There are 2 starts to this climb. You can start West Face Left, 5.5 R/X, or West Face Right, 5.5 R/X. It is best to consider this a solo.

Protection

Not much. You might be able to place tricams in potholes or loop a boulder with a long piece of webbing. There is a fixed rap anchor on top.

Descent

There is a fixed anchor atop this formation and you can rappel off to the West with a single rope.

I have always loved this route. Jim Dunn, Billy Westbay, and I used to solo up and down back in the '70s. If you're not a bold leader, then split the route into 2 pitches. Belay on the ledge from a large boulder. That way the leader of the last bit can have a spot on the hard section off the ledge.

I replaced the old piton anchors, which wiggled!, four years ago with 2 beefy 1/2" bolts. After rapping, you can set up a toprope on the North Ridge (5.9), the East Face (5.10), Silhouette on the south ridge (5.8), or the lower boulder problems on the right side of the lower west face. Also a good but sandy bouldering traverse is along the base of the east face.

Another good lead (5.7) on the west face goes up to the ledge, then off the left side of the ledge up a face past a 1/2" bolt without a hanger (stolen) to a fixed piton and on to the summit.